Uganda Defeat Kenya To Top Table Ahead of Winner-Takes-All Final

KIGALI, SEPTEMBER 18. The Cricket Cranes have secured top spot in the ILT20 Continent Cup standings after defeating Kenya by 47 runs at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, setting up a winner-takes-all final against the same opponents tomorrow.

Uganda posted 197 for seven after being sent in to bat before bowling Kenya out for 150 in 19 overs to register their seventh victory in eight matches.  The result leaves Uganda and Kenya level on 14 points, both with seven wins and one defeat, but the Cricket Cranes take first place courtesy of a superior net run rate of +3.5383, compared to Kenya’s +2.6573.

More importantly, the victory levels the two sides’ head-to-head record in the tournament at 1-1 after Kenya won their first-round meeting by eight wickets. Tomorrow’s final will therefore be a winner-takes-all encounter between the tournament’s two leading sides — and Uganda will enter it with the momentum of having beaten Kenya convincingly less than 24 hours earlier.

Olipa’s near-century powers Uganda

Gerald Olipa produced another outstanding performance with the bat, smashing 95 from just 52 balls to narrowly miss what would have been Uganda’s second century after Robinson Obuya’s historic 118 against Rwanda.

Olipa struck six fours and eight sixes at a blistering strike rate of 182.69, taking full advantage of two early chances that Kenya failed to hold.

Uganda were in trouble early after losing Mirza Anas Baig (5) and Obuya (16) inside the first four overs and reached only 41 for two at the end of the powerplay. Charles Musemeza’s 20 from 17 balls helped steady the innings before Olipa took control. He combined with Riazat Ali Shah, who made 32 from 19 balls, to rebuild the innings before Kenneth Waiswa added a rapid 17 from 10 deliveries.

Uganda accelerated dramatically in the second half, scoring 127 runs in the final 10 overs to finish on 197 for seven. Olipa was the architect of that recovery before falling for 95 in the 19th over.

“It gives me confidence going into the other tournaments and shows me that I’m capable of scoring runs for the team,” Olipa said after being named Player of the Match for the third time in the tournament.

“We started off quite slow. We lost two wickets in the PowerPlay, but we managed to dig in during the middle phase. Taking the singles and doubles really helped us build into the death overs.”

The 20-year-old said the team was already looking forward to another battle with Kenya.  “The boys are pumped up for the final and we are ready to go,” he added.

Bowlers finish the job

Uganda’s batting effort was backed by another disciplined display from the bowling unit, which repeatedly broke Kenya’s partnerships despite conceding 25 extras.

Juma Miyagi struck with only the second ball of the innings, removing Rushabhvardhan Patel for a duck, before returning at the end to claim two more wickets and finish with three for 39.

Enock Kasaija was equally effective, claiming three for 28 from his four overs, while the spin combination of Joseph Baguma and Matthew Musinguzi squeezed Kenya through the middle overs. Baguma finished with two for 16 from four overs and Musinguzi took two for 29.

Kenya’s Rakep Patel top-scored with 33 from 23 balls, while Sachin Gill made 22 and Gurdeep Bhagat 17, but Uganda consistently chipped away at the Kenyan batting order. Kenya were eventually bowled out for 150 in 19 overs, leaving Uganda with a 47-run victory.

Ogwang: We ticked every box

Assistant coach Jackson Ogwang said the victory represented an important improvement from Uganda’s previous meeting with Kenya.

“First and foremost, we are very happy that we have picked up a win against our arch-rivals. Secondly, yesterday we played a very good T20 game, and we asked the boys to add one percentage to what we did yesterday,” Ogwang said.

“Today, I believe we’ve played a perfect T20 game where we ticked all our boxes in the batting, bowling and fielding departments. We are very happy. It is a confidence-boosting win that pushes us into the final tomorrow against the same team.”

Ogwang credited the batting unit for remaining patient after the early setbacks.

“Most times when we lose early wickets, we try to rebuild, and today was one of those days. We knew we were going to pick up the runs. The second period of that game was very important,” he said.

“The plan was just to pick a boundary in each and every over and keep running, making sure we’re moving at eight to 10 runs an over, which we achieved very well.”

Top of the table, but nothing decided

The victory means Uganda and Kenya finish the round-robin stage with identical records of seven wins and one defeat.

Uganda’s superior net run rate, however, gives them top billing going into the final. That advantage will count for nothing once tomorrow’s match begins.

“We just want to come back tomorrow and do the right things. Whatever we did today, we want to add another one percentage on that and make sure we stick to our plans and play a perfect T20 game again tomorrow,” Ogwang said.

The final will also provide Uganda with an immediate opportunity to build on their response to Kenya’s first-round victory. The Cranes lost that encounter by eight wickets, but have now answered with a comprehensive 47-run victory to level the tournament series at 1-1.

One final, one opponent

Tomorrow’s final promises another high-stakes East African derby, with neither side able to rely on their round-robin position once the contest begins. The two neighbours have already met twice in Kigali, producing one victory apiece. The third meeting will determine the 2026 ILT20 Continent Cup champion.

For Uganda, it will be an opportunity to convert the momentum of today’s victory into another tournament title while continuing preparations for next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier in Nigeria.

The Kigali tournament has already provided valuable international exposure to Uganda’s emerging players, including Olipa, Kasaija, Baig, Fahad Mutagana and Charles Musemeza.

With the final now set, the Cricket Cranes have one more assignment: turn Friday’s momentum into Saturday’s trophy.

ILT20 CONTINENT CUP

Game Eight – Match Summary

Uganda 197/7 (20 overs)

Gerald Olipa 95, Riazat Ali Shah 32, Charles Musemeza 20, Kenneth Waiswa 17; Dhiren Gondaria 1/14, Francis Mutua 1/33, Shem Ngoche 1/34.

Kenya 150 all out (19 overs)

Rakep Patel 33, S Gill 22, Gurdeep Bhagat 17, Nitish Hirani 12; Enock Kasaija 3/28, Juma Miyagi 3/39, Joseph Baguma 2/16, Matthew Musinguzi 2/29

Uganda won by 47 runs

Player of the Match: Gerald Olipa

Final Table Standings

Team                    M       W       L        Pts     NRR

Uganda                 8          7          1          14        +3.5383

Kenya                   8          7          1          14        +2.6573

Rwanda                8          4          4          8          +0.5989

Botswana              8          2          6          4          -2.1435

Sierra Leone         8          0          8          0          -4.4031

ILT20 CONTINENT CUP FINAL – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Kenya vs. Uganda, 2pm EAT

Venue: Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Kigali

Status: Grand Final

ILT20 CONTINENT CUP CHAMPIONS

2023 — Uganda, Nairobi

2024 — Uganda, Kigali

2025 — Tournament not held

2026 — ????

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